The Washington critic., 1887-02-19
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 10, 1887.
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA.


The bill recently introduced In the
House Of Representatives by Mr.. But.
torworth of Ohio, relative to the ostab.
lishment Of reciprocal commercial re.
lations between the United States aud
Canada, is one of the very best meas.
ures that has been submitted to Con.
gress this session. In view Of the re
tallatory and bcligcrcut legislation
which is now pending, and which Is
calculated rather 70 cs,ranrr two coun.
tlies that ought ON oil accounts TO be
united by close bonds OF union, than
TO bring about n fuir aul satisfactory
settlement Of The difficulties That nov
div de them, thls btll of Mr. Butter.
wofths is yuiiaule olive branch Of
peace.
1t is bls-d upon l'c plipclple TINT
countries haviug sl.h w identity Of
Interests with ouly fiY,f and chain OF
lakes TO separate thcm should have no
mn,e barriers iuierp1sci TO their trade
with each other than ih,rJ are between
contiguous States of The same country.
There are various reasons why the an
neXation Of Canada to the uited States
might not be polite or desirable at this
me, but II would be extremely diff
cult to assign a single reason for ham
pering our intercourse as buyers and
sellers with Improbable restrictions,
and Gordon Of customs officers to
keep espionage and levy taxes on our
traffic.
Reciprocity, moreover, solves at
once and for all time, the much.vexed
and troublesome fishery question; does
away with the necessity of further ne.
go,iations as to conflicting claims upon
this point and precludcs the possibility
Of rupture in the friendly relations
now subsisting between our Govern.
ment and that of Grea, Britain, grow.
ing out of this cause. That there will
he objections to such a policy on both
sides of the line among the adherents
of protection who thrive by system
of favoritism to the few which is pos
tive detriment to the many, Is, of
course, TO be expected, but not to the
extent that would occur were Canada
looked upon as n strictly foreign coun.
try 10 be kept at respectful distance.
But there are objections to all great
commercial, as well as other reforms,
and in this instance as in others they
would simply have to be subordinate
TO the general welfare,
The Toronto NaH, which warmly
espouses Mr. Bltterwoith's bill, says
upon this point
without doubt, reciprocal free trade with
the United stntc4 would result in the wedding
cut of some Of the industries which tn, tarlG
of 1879 las called into existence; and
the men whose money Is agGA IN thea iE!sA.
be expected 10 protect that ihc whole country
WIS about to tc ruined. rut DO one can
seriously suppose thgt the general fert
would be otherwise than most tencGclrl to
the two Peoples, II few cXotics peri,hcd
IN the hraoing Hi-, all those Canadian indus
tries which descrycit TO survive would receive
an impetus such Gs no iU'IG juggling could
ever give them. Il f. hardly necessary TO add
that our three principal parsuits-lrlcul-
turc, numbering and tha i.herGs-would be
greatly benefited; and that the arrangement
would lead 10 the thorough exploration and
development Of or mining resources.
The NdH considers the introduction
of this measure by so pronounced
Republican as Mr.. Butterworth, and
its approval by so pronounced n Dem
crat and distinguished an official as
Secretary Bayard, very hopeful
sigp."